Project Manager

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At Midwest Heritage, the core of our culture is taking care of the customer and taking care of each other. Our employees appreciate that their contributions make a direct impact on the success of our business as well as their own personal and professional growth.

Job Title: Project Manager

Department: Operations

FLSA: Exempt

General Function:

The Project Manager leads cross-functional initiatives that support Midwest Heritage’s strategic and operational priorities. Projects may include technology implementations, process improvements, infrastructure changes, organizational initiatives, and acquisitions. This position manages projects throughout the full lifecycle, from initial planning and requirements through implementation, transition, and closeout.

The Project Manager partners with business leaders, internal teams, vendors, and other stakeholders to establish clear objectives, maintain momentum, manage risks, and deliver high-quality outcomes within the approved scope, timeline, and budget. Success in this role requires strong organization, communication, business judgment, and the ability to lead teams through influence rather than direct authority.

Core Competencies

• Organization

• Communication

• Leadership

• Teamwork

• Decision Making

Reporting Relations:

Accountable and Reports to: Chief Information and Technology Officer

Positions that Report to you: None

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Controls

• With the input of management and team members, develops project scope, documents the project objectives, and facilitates agreement on project roles, responsibilities, and deliverables.  

• Manages multiple moderate-scale projects, ensuring that they will be completed timely, within approved budget and that the project meets the business objectives.

• Manages projects throughout the full project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, testing, implementation/go-live, transition to applicable production team, and project closeout.

• Coordinates the daily/weekly project team meetings and assignments, monitors progress against the work plan to ensure that objectives are met.

• Coordinates testing, user acceptance testing, implementation readiness, go-live activities, and post-implementation follow-up as appropriate for assigned projects.

• Coordinates with third-party vendors and implementation partners to establish expectations, monitor deliverables and timelines, resolve issues, and escalate concerns when necessary.

• Works with applicable management for approving/denying changes with projects and identifying obstacles to completing a project timely, within approved budget, and impacts to functionality.

• Ensures the quality of the overall program through constant monitoring, control and auditing of the various assigned initiatives following proven PMI processes and procedures.

• Identifies, qualifies, and tracks risks and issues with the project team and stakeholders. Document the mitigation, contingency and action plans. Coordinates with functional leaders to secure appropriate resources, escalate to management when necessary and communicate status to the project stakeholders.

• Creates and maintains project methodology SOP to be used by Midwest Heritage, including supporting forms, documents, plans, etc. to be utilized in management of simple and moderate scale projects.

Resource Management

• Identifies resource requirements and properly communicates those requirements in a timely manner to help ensure the project is properly staffed with the skilled resources required.

• Continually monitors progress of tasks/activities, motivates team members to complete their work on time and provides guidance and support to team members regarding project expectations and methodology. Identifies and reports issues regarding project performance.

• Escalates unresolved or ongoing performance issues to the appropriate functional manager, providing specific examples and details on the impact to the project.

Communication

• Ensures a smooth transition through each phase of the project and proper communication between the various responsible groups, setting clear expectations and promoting accountability by documenting commitments, monitoring progress, and escalating concerns when appropriate for their responsibilities on the program and within the various projects.

• Serves as the primary interface with stakeholders and the project sponsor to ensure objectives and customer-focused requirements are defined and aligned with company direction and communication is consistent and appropriate for the internal and external stakeholders.

• Facilitates project meetings ensuring each has an agenda, supporting documentation is provided, and action items and responsibilities are documented in the meeting minutes.

• Remains updated and educated in skills related to all project management and educating project team members in the utilization of project management principles, methods, processes and tools.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Worker Characteristics:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

• Experience with project management methodologies and tools.

• Proficiency with project management and work-tracking software used to develop project plans, manage tasks and milestones, track project status, and maintain project documentation.

• Demonstrated ability to complete projects on time, on budget, and with the approved scope.

• Ability to manage multiple moderately complex software implementations or technical consulting projects simultaneously.

• Effective leadership skills, including the ability to develop and motivate high-performing and diverse teams and meeting facilitation skills.

• Experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating the work of technical and nontechnical contributors.

• Proficient in defining stakeholder communication requirements and developing and delivering communication plans.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to develop and deliver project presentations and status updates and to technical and non-technical audiences and to all levels of management.

• Effective problem solving, conflict management and negotiation skills.

• Ability to accurately estimate project activities and budgets.

• Proficient in process and standards development, implementation and continuous improvement.

• Ability to identify, manage and mitigate risks.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, technology or equivalent experience.

• Three to five years of experience in Project Management or similar experience.

• Three or more years of experience leading technical and non-technical resources.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.

• Working knowledge and practical experience within the banking or financial services industries preferred.

Physical Requirements:

This position primarily operates in a professional office environment and routinely requires the use of a computer, telephone, and other standard office equipment. The employee must be able to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone and remain in a stationary position for extended periods. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Working Conditions:

This position operates in a fast-paced environment requiring the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing business needs. Travel to Midwest Heritage locations and other business sites may be required, up to approximately 30%.

Equipment Used to Perform Job:

PC with Microsoft Office programs

Contacts: 

This position works with Midwest Heritage employees, Hy-Vee employees, vendors and outside agents doing direct business with Midwest Heritage.

Confidentiality:

This position has the responsibility to protect the privacy and confidentiality of customers, employees and bank/insurance/financial information at all times. 

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Follow all state and federal regulatory requirements and complete assigned training courses within the required timeframes.

• Perform quality work within deadlines.

• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.

• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.

• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.